by Rachelle Benson

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: March 12, 2009

She turned five in February. I have never been one to rush and buy anything for my children unless they relentlessly keep on it for weeks. Money is too tight to buy them something that was neat this morning but will be tossed to the curb by nightfall.

For months now, my youngest has asked for a doll house. She has yet to get it. Decisions, decisions, decisions. There are some very neat doll houses out there. But it will all ultimately depend on your child. I was rather impressed with Barbie, naturally. Barbie has always lived in swank homes, and you can always customize with the furniture; of course, sold separately. The last one I looked at cost over $100.00, but you could close it all together and let it sit in a corner. It could open up and some of the furniture was inside attached. Maybe when she is older. I think it's too much for her right yet.

Dora has a pretty neat doll house out. More action figure oriented. And that's a tough one, being as Dora reins the bedroom right now. But alas, my own daughter is heading into a princess phase where I think Dora may do better for younger children. It was more affordable, and yet smaller. Perfect for those little three year old hands. But the pieces large enough that they can't put them in their mouths if younger siblings decide to play along. Diego has a similar "treehouse" that opens up and you can add more to later.

I do think I may settle on the more affordable Pet shop "pet house." Granted, there are no dolls, but the dogs have swings, the monkeys have vines, and the ducks have pools. Again the pieces are smaller and more action figure/bobble head. They are still good for small hands and you can find any pet imaginable. Puppies with purses, cats with curtains, turtles with beach blankets. She doesn't play with the Barbie's as much as she does the animals. So in our own personal situation, how much money we have and what she will really play with will ultimately win.

There are several ways to choose doll houses. One of my favorites is handing kids a catalogue and a big red crayon and have them circle the things they "want". I can then shuffle through the memory what they really have been wanting. I then go out online to see what kind of deals I can find at toy stores, Wal-Mart, eBay, and Amazon. There are others, but I usually start there. This is beneficial to those in rural areas like me. Others can hit the closest Mall or Outlet Store and see what kind of bargain they can drum up.

In any account, let your child be a part of the process of picking out their dollhouse, dog house, treehouse, or igloo. After all their play is their work. And their work is their play.

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